Anchor pin for bed skirts

ABSTRACT

It has been discovered that the above problems, which had been left unsolved

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(A) Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to the field of attachment devices andsystems, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to adevice and method for securing a bed skirt to the box springs.

(B) Discussion of Prior Art

The use of a bed skirt about the perimeter of a bed is a wellestablished practice. The bed skirt acts as a decorative device and as ameans for keeping dust out from under the bed. The bed skirt istypically part of a large sheet section that fits over the box springs.Also the skirt can be made in sections and attached to the upper surfaceedge of the box springs by a device, decorating the borders of the bedand eliminating the need to remove the mattress to change the skirt.There is a device a pin U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,082 that claims to hold theskirt in place. However they can come out easily by brushing across thepin with a hand when changing sheets and working loose with the movementof the mattress on top. It was found the adhesive on the Velcro does nothelp to hold the pin into the box springs, other adhesives sticks to thefabric but does not hold to the fabric. With the straight leg metalprongs they slip out of the box springs very easily. Also they cannot beused in a vertical application, only on a flat horizontal surface orthey will fall out onto the floor. Then they become very dangerous forsome one stepping on them with the sharp needle points.

Thus there remains a need for a device and system for attaching the bedskirt to a box spring that does not have the problems as mentionedabove. A device to firmly hold the skirt in place even with the movementof the mattress on top. Also that will not get caught up in the sheetsand come out when changing the sheets with the hand hitting them andthat can be attached vertically thru the skirt into the side of the boxsprings.

SUMMARY

It has been discovered that the above problems, which had been leftunsolved by the known prior art, can be solved by providing an anchorpin for bed skirts, the anchor pin including the following elements.

-   A) a substantially flat body having an upper surface and an    underside surface-   B) at least two prongs protruding from the underside surface of the    body-   C) the prongs bent at a 90 degree angle one half of the length of    the prongs, more or less.

The flat section of material of the skirt offering an area for attachingan anchor that is designed in accordance with the description above, andbeing connected to decorative ruffled, pleated or plain material whichwill be visible about the perimeter of the box springs.

In a preferred embodiment the body is generally longer than it is wide,and includes at least two prongs protruding from the underside surface,one near each end of the body. It has been found that by placing theseprongs at approximately one inch to one and a half inches apart from oneanother, and having a length of approximately from between one half ofan inch and two inches in length, but preferably of one and one halfinches in length, one may effectively provide significant gripping forcewith the angle of the anchor to lock the bed skirt into the box springs.The needle sharp prongs prevent damaging of the fabric of the skirt andor the filler of the box springs

It should also be understood that while the above and other advantagesand results of the present invention will become apparent to those inthe art from the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings, showing the contemplated noval construction, combinations andelements as herein described, and more particularly defined by theappended claims. It is understood that changes in the preciseembodiments of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be includedwithin the scope of the claims.

DRAWINGS Title of Drawings Anchor Pin for Securing Bedskirts

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of thepresent invention according to the best mode presently devised formaking and using the instant invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a Front elevational view of a anchor pin:

FIG. 2 is a Left side view thereof:

FIG. 3 is a Top elevational view thereof:

FIG. 4 is a Left side, bottom perspective view thereof:

FIG. 5 is a Right side elevational view showing the pin position in boxspring

FIG. 6 is a Left side, top perspective view thereof:

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a box spring having a skirt attached tothe perimeter of the box spring by means of the system taught herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the invention will be described and disclosed herein connectionwith certain preferred embodiments, the description is not intended tolimit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and describedhere, but rather the invention is intended to cover all alternativeembodiments and modifications that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the claims included herein as well as anyequivalents of the disclosed and claimed invention.

Turning to FIG. 1 showing the frontal elevated view which illustratethat the anchor pin 18 include a substantially flat body 16 with anupper surface 12 and an underside surface 15. It is preferred that theanchors 18 include a flat body 16. Attached to the underside surface 15of the flat body 16 are at least two prongs 14 which protrude from theunderside surface 15

Turning to FIGS. 2 and 5 shown the side view of the flat body 16 withthe prongs 14 extended from the underside surface 15 of the anchor pin18 at approximately an 90 degree angle.

Referring again to FIG. 5 shown with the prongs 14 entering the surfaceof the box spring 17 and the prongs 14 then curving down at an anglewithin the box spring 17 at approximately 90 degree angle, to create alocking position the underside surface 15 of the anchor 18 coming torest on top of the box spring 17. Making the skirt secure.

Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4 shown attached to the underside surface 15, ofthe flat body 16, are at least two prongs 14, which protrude from theunderside surface 15. Since the anchor 18 are used to hold a flatsection of fabric against a box spring 17, it has been found that theprongs 14 should be between approximately one third to one and one halfinches in length and preferably between one half and one and one quarterinches in length, and most preferably about one and one half inches inlength. Any one being bent at half of its length at approximately 90degree angle, entered into the box spring 17 creating a locking positionthat will not pull out easily.

Also shown on FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is the long shape of the body 16 of theanchor 18. The long shape provides the body 16 with a pair of oppositeends 20. As shown on FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 the prongs 14 are preferablyplaced near the opposite ends 20. The long shape of the body 16 servesat least two purposes. This first purpose is to allow sufficient spacingbetween the prongs 14 so as to allow the development of good resistanceto pivoting, of the fabric sustained, about one of the two prongs 14. Itis important that the spacing of the prongs 14 be relatively large, ofabout between one inch and one and one half inches, so that any forcesthat may tend to spin the anchor 18 about one of the prongs 14 can beproperly resisted. Also it should be noted that the body 16 ispreferably made from a substantially rigid material such as steel, orother metals, and could be made from a plastic, particularly a fiberreinforced plastic, or a combinations thereof.

Thus details of the use of the instant invention is shown on FIG. 5where the flat section underside surface 15 against the box spring 17and the prongs 14 have been shown inserted into the fill material withinthe box springs 17.

Referring to FIG. 6 Top perspective view showing the anchor 18 inposition before attaching to a box spring 17

Turning now to FIG. 7 where a system 21 for decorating the border of abed 22 having a box spring 17 the system 21 being used with the boxspring 17. As has been illustrated in FIG. 7 the system 21 uses ananchor 18 as taught herein to hold a section of decorative fabric 23,which includes a substantially flat section 24 and a ruffled section 25that is attached to the flat section 24 and used to drape or cover theareas about the perimeter of the box spring 17.

It is important to note that while the flat section 24 has been shown asbeing of a limited width, extending over only a small portion of thesurface of the box spring 17. However it is clearly contemplated thatthe anchors 18 may be used with traditional bed skirts where the flatsection 24 covers the entire surface of the box spring 17.

Thus it can be appreciated that the above described embodiments areillustrative of just a few of the numerous variations of arrangements ofthe disclosed elements used to carry out the disclosed invention.Moreover, while the invention has been particularly shown, described andillustrated in detail with reference to preferred embodiments andmodifications thereof, it should be understood by that the foregoing andother modifications are exemplary only, and that equivalent changes inform and detail may be made without departing from the true spirit andscope of the invention as claimed, except as precluded by the prior art.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. An anchor for securing a section of fabric against asurface of an object, the anchor comprising: a body having an uppersurface and an underside surface and two spaced apart prongs protrudingfrom the underside surface of the body, each said prong having a bendalong it's length so that the anchor may be inserted through the fabricand into the surface of the box spring.
 8. An anchor according to claim7 and wherein said body comprises a substantially flat section ofsubstantially rigid material, the body further having a generallyelongated shape and rectangular shape having opposite ends and or asquare and or a round shape with opposite sides.
 9. An anchor accordingto claim 8 and wherein said prongs are placed near the ends of said bodyand or opposite sides of said body.
 10. A system for decorating a bedhaving a box spring, the system being used with the box spring, thesystem comprising: An anchor comprising: a substantially flat bodyhaving an upper surface and a underside surface having two prongsprotruding from the under side surface of the body, each said pronghaving a bend along the length so that the prongs may be insertedthrough the substantially flat section of the decorative fabric and intothe box springs.
 11. A system according to claim 8 and 10 and whereinsaid body comprises substantially flat section of substantially rigidmaterial, the body further having a generally elongated shape and orrectangular and or round opposite and or square having opposite ends orsides to hold decorative fabric.
 12. A system of according to claim 10and 11 and wherein said prongs are placed near the ends of said body.13. A method of decorating a bed having a box spring the methodcomprising the steps of: (a) an anchor having an upper surface and undersurface and two spaced apart prongs protruding from the underside of thebody each said prong having a bend along it's length at approximately a90 degree angle so that the anchor may be inserted through the fabricand into the surface of the box spring creating a locking position. (b)An anchor comprising of a substantially flat section of substantiallyrigid material the body generally having an elongated shape and orrectangular and or square and or round having opposite ends and oropposite sides.